OLBRECHTs] THE SWIMMER MANUSCRIPT 245 



or knots, resulting from the stings of insects, and suggesting to the 

 Indian the idea of pieces of venison or bear meat strung upon a stick 

 to be barbecued. 



By the "Httle (blowgun) arrow tufts" on the white oak are meant 

 the swelHngs or buds on the suckers which grow up from around the 

 base of the tree, as compared to the thistledown at the end of a 

 blowgun arrow. These suckers are considered to resemble in appear- 

 ance the jointed sections of a rabbit's intestines, and thence to have 

 an occult influence over a disease which may have been caused by the 

 rabbits. The medicine man selects seven of these suckers and three 

 or four of the knotty red oak twigs, each about a foot long, and puts 

 them into the vessel with the decoction. 



The taboo includes salt and hot food as usual, together with greasy 

 food of any kind, for the reason that grease, being derived from animal 

 sources, would neutralize the effect of the medicine, intended to 

 counteract the influence of those animals. 



50 

 vjQ-'.i u'^m'o^Q'^lo'U ng-Vo-'tH' Tt'af 



different they have inhaled to cure with this 



se-'hkwo-'ya Go'lkwo-'ci nu'^'ye'cQ*' iyi;'stt!a°' so-'Gwo°'-*i 



(eryjigo) seven full grown Uke, each one, Loc 



This (is) to Treat (Them) With (When) They Have Inhaled 



Bad (Odors) 



FREE TRANSLATION 



Eryngo, seven full-grown (stalks) each (having) one (stalk) where 

 (it grows). 



explanation 



This prescription is for the cure of nausea or stomach disorder 

 caused by disagreeable inhalations, as from a dead body (human or 

 animal) or any fetid matter. 



The patient drinks a warm infusion of seven se*'hkwo"'ya, Eryngium 

 virginianum Lam., Eryngo plants, which produces vomiting. 



The infusion is strained before use, and drunk once every morning 

 for four days. Hot food is prohibited during this period. 



There is no ceremony, bat a peculiar injunction that the seven 

 plants selected must each have but a single stalk. Such plants are 

 rather difficult to find, as the Eryngo usually sends up a number of 

 stalks from each root. (See p. 54.) 



